Nearly three decades after his death, Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has received one of the highest honours in global music, as the Recording Academy announced it will posthumously confer a Lifetime Achievement Award on the Nigerian icon.
Naija News reports that the British Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday that the award will be presented at the Grammy Awards, making Fela the first African to receive the prestigious honour.
According to the BBC, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises Fela’s enduring influence on global music, culture and political expression, cementing his legacy as one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century.
Reacting to the announcement, Fela’s son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the honour as both emotional and symbolic.
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story,” Seun said.
A former manager and long-time associate of the late singer, Rikki Stein, said the recognition had taken far too long.
“Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” Stein said.
The BBC noted that the recognition comes at a time of growing global interest in African music, fuelled largely by the international rise of Afrobeats, a genre whose foundations were laid by Fela decades earlier.
In 2024, the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category, a move widely seen as an acknowledgement of Africa’s expanding influence on the global music scene.
This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy also earned a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category, further underlining Africa’s growing presence at the awards.
Among Global Music Legends
Egalitarian Voice reports that Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award places him in the company of some of the world’s most celebrated musicians.
Past recipients include Bing Crosby, while this year’s honourees also feature Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and Paul Simon.
Members of Fela’s family, friends and long-time associates are expected to attend the Grammy ceremony to receive the award on his behalf.
“The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father,” Seun Kuti added.
The BBC described Fela as far more than a musician, portraying him as a cultural thinker, political agitator and the creator of Afrobeat.
Alongside legendary drummer Tony Allen, Fela developed the genre by blending West African rhythms with jazz, funk and highlife, characterised by extended improvisation and politically charged lyrics.
During a career that spanned several decades until his death in 1997, Fela released more than 50 albums and became one of Africa’s most fearless critics of authority.
Wizkid: 10 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Fela
Through his music and activism, he repeatedly confronted Nigerian military governments, turning Afrobeat into both a sound and a weapon of resistance.
🔗 Join Our WhatsApp Channel for Latest News
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9qtzXHwXbIyBGtjk2o
🔗 Join Our Telegram Channel
https://t.me/+WrSL9_-P-kBlZDM8
